Once upon a time, in a land flowing with milk and honey, there was a war. It was a silent war, with minimal deaths; and it lasted more than 40 years. They called it "The Cold War". The war ended, not through invasion, but through prosperity. It was won with quality of life.

When the war ended, both sides drastically scaled down their armies. After all, there was no longer a need for a large military. The money could be better used on big companies, so they could hire all the men and women who were no longer needed to staff the army. The military switched from active to passive service. They told new recruits that "reserve" was the way to go. 6-9 months of training and 2 weeks a year for the next ten years would buy all the perks of military service without the risks of death or dismemberment. Recruiters told these bright young men and women that they would be called upon to serve only in a time of great need. They implied that the reservists (as they were called) would fill jobs on our own soil, while the regular army would fight the good fight over seas.

They lied.

The United States of America, winner of the Cold War and all around "good guy" needs to prepare for a new (old) problem. We are going to have battle-scarred, shell-shocked, embittered and disillusioned men and women returning to raise the children that their families have been caring for. There will be no place in society for them. There will be no jobs. There will be no help from the military that used them so poorly. And their children will suffer in silence.